Deputy US Trade Representative
Peter F. Allgeier met with members of the media Thursday
(Oct. 23) to answer questions about the U.S. plans for negotiations
regarding the Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA)

“The focus of
this trip and the primary attention of the meetings yesterday
and today has been on the FTAA, to create a truly free trade
zone throughout the western hemisphere,” said Ambassador
Allgeier, speaking at the U.S. Embassy. “The meetings
have confirmed that Uruguay and the United States have very
similar ideas of FTAA and the benefits it can bring to our
people.”

Ambassador Allgeier is the
Deputy U.S. Trade Representative, in the Office of the U.S.
Trade Representative (USTR). USTR is part of the Executive
Office of the President.

Ambassador Allgeier emphasized
that the goal was to see the FTAA in place by January of
2005. He described the US vision of NTAA as global, multilateral,
ambitious, with all 34 countries in the Western Hemisphere
acting as one company. That would include one set of regulations,
unlimited access and elimination of tariffs for participating
countries.

“Both of our governments
see this free trade in the Western hemisphere as beneficial
to integrate the markets, improve the economy and alleviate
poverty,” Ambassador Allgeier said.

On the differences with Brazil,
Ambassador Allgeier said, while the goal is to have all
34 Western Hemisphere countries in the FTAA, it will be
up to each country to decide whether to sign the agreement.

Ambassador Allgeier’s
agenda in Montevideo included meetings with the Minister
of Foreign Affairs Ambassador Guillermo Valles, US Ambassador
Martin J. Silverstein and representatives of the American
Chamber of Commerce. He also had a lunch meeting with President
of Uruguay Jorge Batlle on Thursday (Oct. 23).

Ambassador Allgeier was in
Brazil earlier in the week. He heads to Argentina for more
FTAA-related meetings.

During his career at USTR,
Ambassador Allgeier has conducted major negotiations with
countries throughout Asia, Europe (including the former
Soviet Union), the Middle East, and Latin America and the
Caribbean, as well as multilateral negotiations in the United
Nations and the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT).
These negotiations include: elimination/reduction of foreign
tariffs and non-tariff barriers on U.S. goods and services;
bilateral investment treaties; improvements in foreign laws
governing patents, trademarks and copyrights; government
procurement; the establishment of orderly marketing arrangements;
removal of foreign export subsidies; and treaties normalizing
U.S. trade and investment relations with the countries of
Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.